Fair Election Committee issues ruling on anti-Slaughter ad claim

Posted at: 10/22/2012 10:16 PM | Updated at: 10/23/2012 3:31 PM

The Fair Election Practices Committee has issued a ruling on a claim from Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's campaign.

The claim involved a third-party ad in support of her challenger, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks. The ad was produced by Crossroads GPS, a policy and grassroots advocacy organization.

According to the complaint, Congresswoman Slaughter's campaign says the ad is full of disproven, inaccurate and dishonest accusations against her. The ad makes the following claims:

 a.) Slaughter's vote sent nearly $2 million to California to collect ants in Africa
 b.) $25 million for snow making in Vermont
 c.) Almost $300,000 to Texas to study weather on Venus
 d.) While here in New York, over 276,000 people have lost their jobs

Out of those, the Fair Election Practices Committee ruled the claim that Slaughter's vote sent $25 million for snowmaking in Vermont as inaccurate. The other three complaints were not sustained, according to the decision.

In a release, Eric Walker, spokesman for Congresswoman Slaughter's campaign, said in part "Not only are Maggie Brooks' special interest allies trying to buy this election, but they're lying about Louise's record to do it."

Noah Lebowitz, spokesman for Brooks' campaign, said in part "The Fair Elections Board ruled today that Louise Slaughter voted to send $2 million to Africa to study ants and $300,000 to study weather on Venus. At the same time, New York lost 276,000 jobs."

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